Mehnaz Begum

Mehnaz Begum is a renowned Pakistani singer known for her work in film, radio, and television. She rose to prominence as a playback singer during the 1970s and 1980s. Her melodic voice allowed her to master various musical genres.

Early life and education

Mehnaz was born in 1958 at Mahmudabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Her family migrated to Pakistan during the late 1950s. She is the daughter of the celebrated singer Kajjan Begum and the government officer Abdullah Tasnim. Music played a significant role in her upbringing. She received her initial training from her mother, who was also a professional singer.

During her college years, Mehnaz enjoyed painting. She harbored an interest in choosing painting as a career path. She frequently spent time drawing various birds and flowers.

Career

Mehnaz began her journey as a playback singer in the early 1970s. Saleem Gilani, the director general of Radio Pakistan, Karachi, spotted her performing at a college concert. This encounter helped develop her professional singing career. Following this discovery, Mehdi Hassan and his brother, Pandit Ghulam Qadir, trained her at the radio station for approximately one month. Her technical control and musical training quickly made her a favorite among Pakistani film music directors.

She possesses a flexible voice capable of creating any mood. While she is famous for playback singing, she also specializes in ghazal, thumri, dadra, khayal, and drupad. Mehnaz can recite salam, noha, and marsiya with great skill. Her soft and melodious voice is particularly suited for romantic songs. Composers often approach her to sing during dramatic moments in movies because she portrays emotions so effectively. She delivers every note with perfection—whether the pitch is high or low.

Her contributions extend to light classical music on Pakistani television shows. Mehnaz sang Ahmed Faraz’s ghazal "Jana" with such skill that he dedicated the piece to her. Once she achieved widespread fame, she transitioned from her full name to simply Mehnaz or Mehnaz Begum.

Mehnaz passed away on 19 January 2013. She died at a hospital in Bahrain while transiting from Karachi to Miami, Florida. She was traveling to seek medical treatment for a respiratory ailment. Her condition worsened during the flight, leading to her death during a stopover. She is laid to rest at the Wadi-e-Hussain graveyard in Sohrab Goth, Karachi.

Personal life

Mehnaz never married. She found joy in bird-watching and admiring nature. Her favorite television series was Franklin, which follows the life of a turtle. She also held a deep fondness for the 1942 Disney animated movie Bambi.

Awards and recognition

Mehnaz earned significant acclaim throughout her professional life. She won the Nigar Award for Best Female Playback Singer 13 times. This total includes a period where she won 7 awards consecutively. In 2011, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lux Style Awards.